Protests continued across Cooch Behar district on Wednesday over remarks of Sushil Modi, the former deputy chief minister of Bihar and a BJP Rajya Sabha member, on Tuesday about royals, including Gayatri Devi.

The Bihar leader, while visiting the Cooch Behar palace on Tuesday, said: “The kings and royals would collect taxes from common people and use the money to make huge mansions. They had a luxurious lifestyle, would indulge in multiple marriages, and were least bothered about the rights of commoners....”

He added that Gayatri Devi in 1962 had contested the Lok Sabha elections as a candidate against a lower-caste woman of the same name.

After Trinamul burnt the BJP leader’s effigy and demonstrated in front of the palace, on Tuesday evening, the BJP leader tried to control the damage.

“It was a general remark and not about the kings of Cooch Behar. The kings here have worked for people. Gayatri Devi is known for her services to people,” he told the media.

The damage control, however, didn’t work.

“We condemn the remarks of Sushil Modi. He should apologise. Also, it was disappointing to see that two local (BJP) MLAs next to him didn’t object. These MLAs should also seek apology from the people of Cooch Behar,” said Bangshibadan Barman, who heads a faction of the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples’ Association, on Wednesday.

Lawyers protested at Sagardighi of Cooch Behar town.

Trinamul supporters in Mathabhanga took out a rally, with Avijit De Bhowmik, the district party president, saying they would protest till the visiting BJP leader and the local BJP MLAs apologised.

Supriya Narayan, the secretary of the Consortium of Koch Royal Families, an association of the descendants of the royals, said: “He (Sushil Modi) made derogatory remarks standing in front of the palace. He should stand in the same place and withdraw his statement."

Ajoy Saha, a BJP district secretary, has posted an apology on social media.